Bakersfield stops work on becoming a sanctuary city

Bakersfield will not name itself a sanctuary city after the city council opted against it last week. 

The city council directed city staff to stop working on anything related to a sanctuary city policy, as well as any work on holding a TRUTH Act hearing. 

Driving the news: Several people spoke at the city council’s meeting on July 15 requesting that the city adopt a policy declaring itself a sanctuary city. 

Councilmembers Manpreet Kaur and Andrae Gonzales asked city staff to draft up a sanctuary city policy and prepare a TRUTH Act forum. 

City Manager Christian Clegg said at the time that the city could schedule a special meeting for the Laws and Legislation Committee to potentially discuss the policy. 

The big picture: Dozens of people showed up at last week’s city council meeting to protest any proposals to make Bakersfield a sanctuary city. 

The sanctuary city policy was not on the agenda, and at the end of the meeting, Councilman Zack Bashirtash made a referral to city staff to stop work on a sanctuary city policy and conduct a TRUTH Act hearing. 

None of the other councilmembers objected to Bashirtash’s referral, putting an end to the sanctuary city talk. 

What they’re saying: City spokesperson Joe Conroy told KGET that the sanctuary city policy is not expected to return to the city council or to any committee meetings after the referral from Bashirtash.